Outreach Activities

There are several ways that individuals can stay informed about the study’s progress and to share comments and insights. Public input received will be considered by the study team. The County wants to develop a project that not only meets the transportation needs of the Sand Lake Road area but is also supported by the community it is intended to serve. The key outreach activities are described below.

Public participation is solicited without regard to race, color, national origin, age, sex, religion, income, disability, or familial status. Persons who require language translation or interpretive services, which are provided at no cost, should contact Ricardo Daye, Orange County Title VI/Nondiscrimination Coordinator, at (407) 836-5825 or by email at ricardo.daye@ocfl.net at least seven (7) days prior to a public meeting. Persons requiring special accommodations under the American with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) may request assistance from the County ADA Coordinator, Dianne Arnold, by phone at 407-836-7588 or by email at dianne.arnold@ocfl.net at least seven (7) days prior to a public meeting.

Study Newsletters

A study newsletter has been created for the Sand Lake Road Study. Five editions will be prepared, and each edition will provide information on the study’s progress and announce upcoming meetings.

Newsletters were emailed to individuals with email addresses. For those individuals without an email address and for adjacent property owners, newsletters will be mailed via U.S. postal service. Copies were available at the Orange County Public Library – Southwest Branch.

Study Advisory Group

Representatives of key study stakeholders were invited to join the Study Advisory Group (SAG). As individuals who live, work, and own businesses or provide services in this corridor, these key stakeholders provided valuable insight into the issues that needed to be considered as mobility solutions were developed for the Sand Lake Road area. This group has met three times throughout the Study, generally at key milestones of the study and before a public meeting to review study materials and to provide feedback/comments on such materials.

To support the County’s interest in ensuring openness and transparency, SAG meetings were open to the general public, and each meeting date, time and location was posted on the study website, County Calendar, and County Bulletin, which is located at the County Administration Center, 201 South Rosalind Avenue, Orlando, Fl 32801, at least two (2) weeks prior to the meeting.

Meeting summaries and additional follow up documentation have been posted as they became available. The County encourages interested persons to continue to visit this website for study updates.

Public Meetings

Two public community meetings were held during this study. After these community meetings, the study recommendations will be presented to the Orange County Local Planning Agency (LPA)/Planning and Zoning Commission (PZC), and the Orange County Board of County Commissioners. Information about each meeting will be posted here along with the meeting materials.

Public Community Meetings

Two community meetings were held during the study at Dr. Phillips High School cafeteria, near the Sand Lake Road study area. The first meeting was held on October 26, 2016. The purpose of this meeting was to present the range of mobility options identified and improvements alternatives developed that could be applied to the corridor. The second meeting was held on February 23, 2017. The purpose of Meeting # 2 was to present the study recommendation of the preferred improvements alternative to the public for review and comment prior to presentation to the Local Planning Agency and Board of County Commissioners. Each community meeting was publicly noticed at least two (2) weeks before the meeting date through the study newsletter (mailings and emails), newspaper advertisements (Orlando Sentinel and El Sentinel), study website, notices hand delivered to the southwest branch of the Orange County Public Library, and County press releases.

Orange County Planning and Zoning Commission/Local Planning Agency

Study findings and recommendations as well as a summary of public and SAG feedback will be presented to the LPA/PZC two times during the course of the study: first as a work session agenda item (April 20, 2017) and second as a public hearing agenda item (May 18, 2017). During the public hearing, a presentation will be given by County staff, followed by an opportunity for the public to ask questions and/or provide comments.

Orange County Board of County Commissioners

The Preferred Improvements Alternative, updated as appropriate based on input received during the LPA work session and public hearing, will be presented to the Orange County Board of County Commissioners (BCC) as a public hearing agenda item (June 6, 2017). A presentation will be given by County staff, followed by an opportunity for the public to ask questions and/or provide comments.

Study Contacts

The study team for the Sand Lake Road RCA study consists of Orange County’s Transportation Planning Division and the consulting team of HDR Engineering, Inc. At any time during the study, you may contact the following individuals if you have any questions or need additional information.

The County encourages you to become involved in this Study. Click Here to be added to our study contact list or to share a comment.

Please be aware that under Florida law, that the information you provide (including email addresses and mailing addresses) are public record. This information may be provided to other individuals who may make a request for study information.